Times of Malta said that wearing a back brace, carrying crutches and sitting in a wheelchair, Jaiteh Lamin returned to the scene of a serious accident on Friday – along with the boss accused of leaving him for dead.
MaltaToday said Archbishop Charles Scicluna testified as a witness in a case between the developers of land in Gozo, and a family whose land title they are challenging.
Newsbook said Christmas concerts can be organised once again this year as long as they abide by strict Covid-19 measures, health minister Chris Fearne announced on Friday.
TVM said a Somalian man, aged 30, sustained grievous injuries after he was hit by a car in Marsa.Updated 12:52
AG concerned about possible Dalli immunity: Former Minister John Dalli returned to court this morning, standing accused to cover an attempt by his aide to solicit a €60 million bribe. However, the prosecution has not charged Dalli, with the Court noting how the Attorney-General is expecting direction from the European Commission over the issue of immunity. At the time the alleged bribe was solicited, Dalli was leading reforms to the EU’s tobacco directive. Citing the EU Treaty, lawyer Antoine Agius Bonnici speaking on behalf of the Attorney-General said officials may be immune from prosecution for any acts done in their official capacity.
Outside the courts Dalli lambasted journalists calling them corrupt and accusing them of not reporting his side of things.
Covid-19 Update:
Active Covid-19 cases are back over the 500 mark (513) with 50 new cases registered on Friday, with 10 recovering. 16 persons are now hospitalised, with three of them in intensive care.
Chamber disagrees with tax scheme favouring ‘defaulters’: The Malta Chamber has expressed its opposition to a new legal notice allowing businesses with tax arrears to not pay any tax due on the transfer of property purchased before March 2021, against their arrears. The Chamber said this was unfair to law-abiding entrepreneurs. “Like every other scheme intended to bring taxpayers in order, this scheme benefits only the defaulters, and does not consider those who have their tax payments in order,” the Chamber argued in a statement today.
Morning Briefing
EC expects Malta to have fastest economic growth in EU in 2022
Malta’s economy should be growing by 6.2% next year, the highest rate in the EU, according to the European Commission’s Autumn Economic Forecast.
Growth is being projected at 6.2% from 5% this year. Like the government, the commission expects a sharp drop in the deficit, from the current 11.1% to 5.8%. Unemployment is expected to be 3.8%, marginally down on this year. Growth is set to peak next year when the contribution of net exports is to become positive, counting on further relaxation of international travel requirements and a strong recovery in tourism.
The report notes that the major potential downside to this forecast relates to the June 2021 decision of the Financial Action Task Force to add Malta to the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring (Grey-listing). As the economy continues to grow and economic support measures are wound down, the deficit is projected to decline to 5.8% of GDP in 2022 and 4.7% in 2023.
A full detailed of the EC report on Malta is available here.
Standards Act should not be used as a witchhunt – Zammit Lewis
Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said argued that the law on standards in public life should not be used as some form of “witch hunt” against politicians. He was replying to questions by the press regarding the vote the day before which voted to adopt a report by standards commissioner George Hyzler that had found Rosianne Cutajar to be in breach of ethics over her brokerage role in a controversial property deal. Zammit Lewis said that “My track record in the standards committee speaks for itself. Yesterday, we voted to adopt the report. I reiterate that Rosianne Cutajar has paid a political price when she resigned from the Cabinet. I am also saying that the committee should not be used as a witch hunt against MPs, members of the executive or any other person that falls under the law on standards in public life. We should behave in the same way irrespective of whoever the person is.” (The Malta Independent)
Covid-19 Update: 63 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday while 25 virus patients recovered, the health authorities said. 16 persons are now hospitalised.
